The UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) has taken a significant step forward with the launch of a new enforcement program by Ofcom, the internet watchdog, aimed at tackling illegal content on online storage and file-sharing services. As of Monday, duties related to combating illegal content under the OSA have come into force, marking a crucial milestone in the UK's efforts to create a safer online environment.

According to Ofcom, its evidence suggests that file-sharing and file-storage services are particularly vulnerable to being used for the dissemination of image-based child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In response, the regulator has initiated an enforcement program to assess the safety measures implemented by these services to prevent the sharing of CSAM on their platforms.

As part of this program, Ofcom has written to a number of online storage and file-sharing services, although the names of the companies involved have not been disclosed. The regulator has put these services on notice that they will soon receive formal information requests regarding the measures they have taken or plan to take to combat CSAM. This includes submitting illegal harm risk assessments, which will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of their safety measures.

The stakes are high for non-compliant services, with penalties of up to 10% of global annual turnover for failure to comply with the OSA. This significant financial incentive is likely to prompt online storage and file-sharing services to take swift action to ensure they are meeting the necessary safety standards.

The launch of this enforcement program marks a crucial step in the UK's efforts to create a safer online environment, particularly in the context of child safety. The OSA, which was introduced to tackle the spread of harmful content online, has been hailed as a landmark piece of legislation in the fight against online abuse.

As the online landscape continues to evolve, the need for effective regulation and enforcement has never been more pressing. The success of Ofcom's enforcement program will be closely watched, and its impact could have far-reaching implications for the tech industry as a whole. With the OSA now in force, online services will need to prioritize safety and security to avoid falling foul of the regulator.

In the coming months, it will be important to monitor the progress of Ofcom's enforcement program and its impact on the online ecosystem. As the regulator continues to work towards creating a safer online environment, the tech industry will be watching closely to see how the OSA is implemented and enforced in practice.